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Ukraine's "EnergyGate" scandal deepens: Zelensky allies implicated in $100M corruption scheme

By kevinhughes // 2025-11-15

• President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle is accused of embezzling $100 million from Ukraine's energy sector, diverting funds meant for nuclear plant defenses against Russian strikes.
• Wiretaps exposed a network of officials and businessmen, including Timur Mindich (a Zelensky financier), German Galushchenko (former energy minister) and others, allegedly laundering bribes through contractors.
• The scandal follows earlier attempts to weaken anti-corruption agencies (NABU and SAPO), sparking protests. With elections suspended under martial law, public trust is eroding amid blackouts and elite corruption.
• The scheme extended to defense contracts, including failed Chinese bulletproof vests, prompting NABU to hint at further raids on Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
• The EU and U.S. demand stricter oversight of Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts, tying future aid and EU membership to accountability. NABU warns more explosive recordings could implicate higher officials—or even Zelensky himself.

Ukraine is embroiled in its most damaging corruption scandal since the Russian invasion began, with President Volodymyr Zelensky's inner circle facing allegations of embezzling $100 million from the country's energy sector. The revelations have shaken public trust at a critical moment, as Ukraine battles Russian airstrikes on its power grid while relying on Western aid to sustain its war effort. Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) revealed this week that a 15-month investigation, codenamed Operation Midas, uncovered a sprawling kickback scheme involving Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear energy company. Prosecutors allege that officials demanded bribes of 10-15 percent from contractors supplying protective infrastructure for nuclear plants—critical defenses against Russian missile strikes. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is a specialized law enforcement agency established in 2015 as part of Ukraine's post-Euromaidan reform efforts, aimed at combating high-level corruption in the country. NABU is a critical institution in the country's fight against high-level corruption. Its establishment and operations reflect Ukraine's commitment to implementing reforms and combating corruption, a significant barrier to the country's economic development and integration with the European Union (EU). Wiretaps spanning 1,000 hours of intercepted conversations exposed a network of high-ranking officials and businessmen, including:

• Timur Mindich, a longtime financial backer of Zelensky and co-owner of his former TV production company, Kvartal 95.
• German Galushchenko, Ukraine's suspended justice minister and former energy minister, accused of facilitating money laundering.
• Oleksiy Chernyshov, ex-deputy prime minister, allegedly involved in illicit enrichment.
• Dmytro Basov, former Energoatom security chief, accused of overseeing the scheme.

Mindich, identified in recordings as "Carlson," allegedly fled to Israel before arrests were made, raising suspicions of a leak within law enforcement. Meanwhile, prosecutors seized bags of cash from a Kyiv office linked to the laundering operation. The scandal strikes at the heart of Zelensky's administration, already under scrutiny for attempting to weaken anti-corruption agencies earlier this year. In July, his government sought to place NABU and SAPO under presidential control, sparking protests and backlash from the EU and the United States. The move was swiftly reversed, but critics saw it as an effort to shield allies from prosecution. Now, with martial law suspending elections, Zelensky faces mounting pressure as Ukrainians endure blackouts while elites allegedly siphon off funds meant for national defense.

Military contracts under scrutiny

The scandal extends beyond energy. Investigators allege Mindich's network also secured lucrative defense contracts, including deals for Chinese-made bulletproof vests that failed military testing. Former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov acknowledged meeting Mindich but denied wrongdoing, stating the contract was canceled due to poor performance. NABU has hinted that further raids on the Defense Ministry are imminent, suggesting the corruption probe may widen. The EU has seized on the scandal to reinforce oversight of Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. A recent European Commission report demanded that NABU remain independent and that key appointments involve international experts. With over $100 billion in U.S. aid flowing into Ukraine since 2022, Western lawmakers are increasingly vocal about ensuring funds aren’t misused. "Any effective action against corruption is very necessary," Zelensky said in a televised address. "The inevitability of punishment is necessary." Yet skepticism remains. Analysts warn that if deeper ties between Zelensky and the accused emerge, his political survival could be at stake. NABU has promised more explosive recordings in the days ahead, fueling speculation that higher-ranking officials—or even Zelensky himself—could be implicated. For Ukraine's Western backers, the scandal is a litmus test of Kyiv's commitment to reform. With EU membership and military aid hanging in the balance, Ukraine's crackdown on graft may determine whether Zelensky can retain both public trust and international support in the war's darkest hour. Watch the video below about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying in an interview that Ukraine has the most sophisticated system of "fighting corruption" in all of Europe. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com Politico.eu BBC.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com

Ukraine Israel European Union EU US European Commission martial law Volodymyr Zelensky Kyiv Ukrainians Energoatom NABU SAPO Operation Midas Timur Mindich